Page:Pen And Pencil Sketches - Volume I.djvu/99

62 I believe, whom Byron mentions in his “English Bards and Scotch Reviewers.”

About this time, my friend Clayton, although devoted to sculpture and painting, on academic lines, had acquired a knowledge of Gothic archi- tecture under Salvin, for whom he had super- intended the elaborate carved work in the choir of Wells Cathedral. At Wells, Clayton, who was facile of hand and omnivorous in his pursuit of art, became deeply impressed with the ancient glass in which the building is so rich.

His sketches of this glass were seen by R. C. Carpenter, the architect, who at once induced Clayton to design for him a window for a church then under his hands. From this incident, Clay- ton, a sculptor at heart, became a glass-painter, although for some time his work was divided between glass-painting, sculpture, and drawing on wood for the Illustrated London News and book- illustration. I have seen headings for songs by him, also a Pilgrim's Progress illustrated in out- line, showing how impressed he was with the work of John Flaxman.

Walking with Smallfield one night from the Langham, he told me that Clayton wanted some assistance in figure-work, and suggested that I should offer my services. This I accordingly did, and was taken on for a few hours of an afternoon.